Someone was bitten by a rattlesnake right at the top of his climb at Royal Columns yesterday. We heard him yelling, and seriously did not believe it could be true. Apparently, right as he was topping out, a snake was sunning right at the top, and bit him in the finger. Hope you were/are OK! I'm thinking about adding a bite kit to my pack next time I go out there.
On the hike out I came across another one just off the path who rattled away at me. I have a wierd thing about snakes, and I just about had a siezure when I saw it, but the climbing was fun so I think I'll just to figure out how to deal with snakes.